aquatint box, used apply resin powder on plate.
an aquatint requires metal plate, acid, , resist acid. traditionally copper or zinc plates used. artist applies ground resist acid. ground applied either dissolving powdered resin in spirits, applying powder directly surface of plate, or using liquid acrylic resist. in forms of etching acid resist commonly referred ground.
an aquatint box used apply resin powder. powder @ bottom of box, crank or bellows used blow powder air of box. window allows engraver see density of flowing powder , place plate in box using drawer. when powder covers plate, can extracted box next operations.
the plate heated; if plate covered powder, resin melts forming fine , coat; if in spirits, spirits evaporate , result same. plate dipped in acid, producing , fine level of corrosion (the bite ) sufficient hold ink. @ point, plate said carry 50% halftone. means that, plate printed no further biting, paper display gray color more or less directly in between white (no ink) , black (full ink).
zinc plate powder resin.
at point artist etch outline of aspects of drawing s/he wishes establish line; provides basis , guide later tone work. s/he may have applied (at start, before biting occurs) acid-resistant stop out (also called asphaltum or hard ground) if s/he intends keep areas totally white , free of ink, such highlights.
the artist begins immersing plate in acid bath, progressively stopping out (protecting acid) areas have achieved designed tonality. these tones, combined limited line elements, give aquatints distinctive, watery look. also, aquatints, mezzotints, provide ease in creating large areas of tone without laborious cross-hatching; aquatint plates, noted, more durable mezzotint plates.
the first etch should short period (30 seconds 1 minute, wide variation depending on how light lightest tones meant be). test piece may made etching times noted, strength of etchant vary. more thirty minutes should produce dark area. etching many hours (up 24) dark etching 1 hour, deep etch produce raised ink on paper.
contemporary printmakers use spraypaint instead of powder, particularly when using technique known sugar-lift. produce printing surface using sugar-lift, artist makes solution of india ink , sugar melting sugar heated ink. mixture applied prepared plate brush, allowing bold expression not possible etching techniques. when ink/sugar mixture dry plate coated asphaltum (liquid ground); plate submerged in warm water dissolves sugar image lifts off plate. exposed areas aquatinted hold ink , plate ready printed from.
Comments
Post a Comment